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So you're off to summer camp, and whether it's your first time at camp or your fiftieth, having fun should be one of your top priorities (within reason, of course). If you're worried that having fun will be easier said than done, there are some things you can do to make it easier.

Steps

Method1

Preparing for Camp

1

Know what the theme of your camp session is. This will help you figure out what to pack and give you an idea of what to expect. Of course, your activities will vary from day to day, but knowing what the theme of your camp session is, if any, will help you get a general idea of what you will be doing every day.

2

Pack appropriate clothing. If you're going to be doing a horseback riding camp, you don't want to find out five days in that you brought only one pair of pants and your guitar. If you're doing a music or band camp, you don't want to have five pairs of riding boots and a riding helmet with you. Make sure that the things you'll be doing and the things you bring match up.

3

Address any concerns. Talk to your parents or someone who has experience with the camp about any worries you may have. Chances are, they will have some helpful advice for you and maybe some stories to tell!

Method2

The First Day

1

Accept that the first day is always the hardest. On the first day, you're getting to know everyone and adjusting to a new place. This is likely the day when you will feel most homesick and most tired as well, so if you feel any of this, it is completely normal!

Of course, don't over-think this, or you will make yourself feel really awful. Try to keep your mind off of how you might get homesick and have fun with your day.

2

Talk to some of the people in your cabin/tent. Making friends with your bunkmate (the person who sleeps below or above you, depending on whether or not you are on the top bunk or the bottom bunk) is easiest, but talk to some of your other cabin-mates/tent-mates too. Chances are, you will find that you and your cabin-mates/tent-mates will have at least one thing in common!

Usually, every unit has at least one camper who will say hello to everyone and make them feel included. Go up and talk to this person, and you may find yourself making friends with them!

If there's no one in your unit who says hi to every new person that comes in, step in and be that person! You'll make a lot of new friends this way and not only will it make them feel more comfortable, it'll make you feel pretty good too!

If you're feeling shy, don't forget that, especially if you're sharing a unit with people who are at camp for the first time, everyone else is probably feeling shy or nervous too. Remember, all of you (or almost all of you) are meeting each other for the first time, so it's bound to be a little awkward for anywhere between a few minutes and a few days, but things will get better as time goes by.

Don't forget that hello is the first word in a friendship. Say hello to someone. Both of you will be glad you did!

3

Introduce yourself. Your counselors will probably play a few name games on the first day to get to know everyone. If this is the case, don't feel embarrassed or feel like these are games that you played in kindergarten (even if they are). Stand up and introduce yourself!

If you're going to have/get rid of a nickname, this is the time to do it. Introduce yourself by your real name, but then state what you want to be called. For example: "Hi, I'm <insert name here>, but please, call me <insert desired nickname here>."

If your counselors do not do introductions (but they probably will have some semblance of intros), introduce yourself to the people in your unit anyway. That way people will know who you are!

4

If you are not doing any activities that first day, play a few games with some of your cabin/tent-mates. This is a great way to de-stress and to get to know some of your camp-mates, and it's a great way to pass the time.

5

Try to get a good night's sleep! It's not going to be easy (unless you are really, really good at falling asleep in new places), but try to get as much sleep as you can that first night. Even if you only get 10 - 20 minutes of shut-eye, every little bit counts and you'll be less tired the next day.

Method3

The Next Few Days

1

Make sure you grab some breakfast every day to keep you going. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it's true - if you eat a good breakfast, you'll have more energy to do the activities that you want to do.

You may run into the problem of a breakfast you don't like. While most camps will have multiple options and usually have cereal, sometimes you may find yourself out of luck. The best thing you can do is to try a little bit of everything, and you'll eventually find something you like.

2

Check out some of the activities. Most camps have activities like archery, canoeing, arts and crafts, and nature hikes, but many also have other, more non-traditional activities. Some may even have an activity involving computers! Make sure you sign up for something at every chance you get.

Whatever they have, Try to do one thing that you know you love and three things that you have never tried before. Who knows? you may find something you really, really love!

Whatever you do, it's going to be hot outside, so Try to go swimming at least once while you are at camp, if you can.

Make sure that you also have a bottle of water with you at all times so that you don't get dehydrated.

3

Don't forget to eat lunch and dinner! You're likely doing a lot more physical activity than normal at camp, so making sure you eat three square meals a day is a must.

If you can, eat a little more than you normally do to make sure that you still have enough energy to keep you going!

4

Play a few more games when you get some down time! Usually, there is a lot of downtime while waiting for a spot in the showers, so play a few games with your camp friends to pass the time.

Singing camp songs is also a fun way to spend your spare time. They may be a little silly, but they're a good way to have a laugh and they're loads of fun!

If you have the supplies, you can use your down time to write letters home. Be sure to include some important things in your letter:

What you're doing at camp

Your favorite part of each day

What you're looking forward to tomorrow

Anything else you want to add

5

Make sure you get some sleep each night. Naturally you and your cabin/tent-mates will want to stay up talking (this is especially common with girls), but try, once again, to get at least a little bit of sleep each night so that you can be awake for the next day's activities.

Method4

The Last Day

1

Accept that this is the last day you will be at camp for a while. It's a sad truth for many, and some people do cry over this fact. Especially if you've had a lot of fun over the course of your stay, be prepared for a lot of strong emotions.

2

Gather the email addresses/phone numbers/addresses of camp friends you would like to stay in touch with. Write them down somewhere you can hold onto them and keep track of them.

3

The day before you leave, pack your suitcase. Make sure you have everything that you brought with you in your suitcase, and if you can't find something, attempt to track it down before you leave.

Make sure you have a change of clothes, some pajamas, toiletries, and proper shoes, not to mention your bedclothes, left out for the final night, especially if they are gathering your luggage the night before.

4

When you go to sleep on that last night, think about all the fantastic memories you've made. So you made a fantastic new friend, shot a perfect bulls-eye doing archery, or trotted on horseback for the first time? Great! Think about that. So you messed up what was going to be a perfect friendship bracelet but you still had fun anyway? That's great too! Reflect on your best (and occasionally worst but still fun) moments.

Do not, what ever you do, think about how much you'll miss being at camp. You will feel absolutely awful and you will have trouble falling asleep.

5

Always be positive, and do not be a party pooper. Talk and be kind to everyone. The more friends you have then the better time you will have. Even if you dont have many friends still be positive and open-minded. Always follow the rules so you don't get in trouble. Nobody wants to be friends with someone who might get them in trouble.

Community Q&A

How can I survive the swimming test without being nervous? How can I make a lot of friends?

Community Answer

You have to have the right mind set; if you don't think you're going to have fun, then you won't have fun. If you think it will be fun, then it just might. Try stuff like making it a competition, who can complete the swim test faster. If you are not there with friends find a group you fit into.

Finally, some peace and quiet at last! No one nagging you, bothering you, being in your way. No one telling you their sob stories, drama and other BS. Finally, some time to do what you yourself want to do. And once you're perfectly fine with being alone, people will get attracted to your confidence. That'll solve the problem.

Tips

Be enthusiastic. Don't be over-enthusiastic unless that's who you are, but have fun with what you're doing. Remember, it's not the situation, but what you do with it that determines if you have a good time.

Be friendly. It's hard to make friends with someone who is grumpy or just doesn't seem like they want to make any friends.

Respect your counselors/leaders. This is always the best policy and if you do this, you will have a lot more fun.

Learn to laugh at yourself. You're going to do something ridiculous at least once while you are there. So you turned on the shower and got a spray of cold water, or laughed so hard at something that you fell out of your seat at lunch, and so everyone laughed at you. If they laughed, it was funny to watch, and even if it wasn't funny at the time, look back at it and smile.

Give your cabin mates space and privacy and be quiet while sleeping in cabins. If you disobey these rules you could get kicked out.

Article Info

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 22 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has also been viewed 7,326 times.